Rockies starting pitcher Juan Nicasio throws to the plate during the first inning against the Dodgers. <a href="http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2012/05/rockies-vs-dodgers-6/35604/"><b>More photos.</b></a>

Rockies second baseman Marco Scutaro throws to first to complete a double play ending the first inning against the Dodgers. <a href="http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2012/05/rockies-vs-dodgers-6/35604/"><b>More photos.</b></a>

The Rockies, who entered the game hitting .226 on the road, managed just four hits and a lot of their at-bats ended with outfield popups.

“What it boils down to, when you play in this ballpark, or Petco Park or AT&T, flyballs aren’t going to work,” manager Jim Tracy said. “Balls that come off the bat and go up in the air are pretty much useless. They are going to get run down in the outfield.”

Turning point. After Nicasio’s departure after the seventh, reliever Josh Outman came on. He gave up a spinning infield single to Loney, who cued the ball off the end of his bat toward third baseman Jonathan Herrera.

In came right-handed reliever Matt Belisle. Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis put down a sacrifice bunt down the first baseline to advance Loney to second. Then Gwynn delivered his game-winner on an 0-2 pitch.

“I was trying to get him to climb the ladder and either chase or pop up,” Belisle said. “He’s been really solid as a pinch hitter lately and seeing the ball well. It was a little too cute of a pitch.”

Gwynn’s game-winner raised his average to .444 (4-for-9) with five RBIs as a pinch hitter this season.

On the mound. Nicasio was seeking the first road victory of his big-league career. He didn’t get it, but he was brilliant. He gave the Rockies seven innings of five-hit baseball. He struck out nine — one shy of his career high — and didn’t walk a batter.

The Dodgers finally nicked him for a run in the fifth. Andre Ethier led off with a double and scored on a wounded-duck single to center by Juan Uribe.

“Juan Nicasio was great,” manager Jim Tracy said. “He pounded the strike zone with his fastball, and with his changeup and slider he had enough to keep them at bay for the entire time he was out there.”

Dodgers starter Aaron Harang matched Nicasio. He went eight innings, giving up one run on four hits.

At the plate. In the seventh, Rockies center fielder Tyler Colvin sat on a 2-0 floating sinker from Harang and drove it deep into the right-field bleachers for a solo home run, tying the game 1-1. It was Colvin’s third homer of the season. Prior to the game, manager Jim Tracy said Colvin was “pushing the envelope” for more playing time in place of Dexter Fowler.

“Every day I come to the ballpark and study the relievers and get ready for my pinch hits,” said Colvin, who’s hitting .400 (4-for-10) on the current road trip. “When I get a chance, I have to be ready to go and be prepared.”

The Rockies wasted two doubles and a prime scoring chance in the third. Wilin Rosario led off with a double and advanced to third on Nicasio’s sacrifice. But Rosario was erased at home when Marco Scutaro grounded to Loney at first, who threw out Rosario at home. The Rockies loaded the bases on a double by Herrera and a walk by Carlos Gonzalez, but Troy Tulowitzki flew out harmlessly to center to end the threat.

Tulowitzki went 0-for-4, flying out to the outfield in all four at-bats. He’s 3-for-15 on this road trip and his average has dipped to .267.

What it means. The Rockies lost for the seventh time in eight games, tumbled to 1-4 on their current road and fell 8 ½ games behind the Dodgers in the National League West. The Dodgers improved to 22-11 and own a 14-3 record at home.

This was a particularly bitter loss for the Rockies, who finally got superb starting pitching but couldn’t capitalize. Colorado’s offense, so potent at Coors Field, has been comatose on the road this season.

WASHINGTON — Thirty games into the 82-game NHL season, and nearly six weeks after the Matt Duchene trade, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic discussed the state of his team before Tuesday’s 5-2 loss at the Washington Capitals.